And Another Question... .243 75Gr Or 58Gr Norma

[bbjaccov5 4]

Hello,

 

I hope i don't bother you with another stupid question. But in Holland nobody seems to know the ansers.

I read allot of topics of bulet choice with windy conditions.
If i have it right ist better to have a lighter bullet that goes fast than a heavy bullet that's slow.

 

There a 2 bullets in .243 i would like to try either the 58gr norma/ hornady or the 75gr norma I like a bullet with a flat trajectory but still as little winddrift as possible.

 

Here is the link with ballistics: http://www.norma.cc/en/Products/Hunting/243-Winchester/

But in their tabel i don't see much difference in wind drift.

 

So what would be better i light bullet like the 58gr or a slightly heavier bullet. I also looked at the hornady site but they don't have any winddrift information.

 

When i start reloading myself i think a 65gr v-max round would make a perfect middle way in trajectory and winddrift?

 

Thanks allot!

 

Gr Jacco

[riohog 5,701]

try hornady 87gn hollow point they shoot well in .243

[bbjaccov5 4]

try hornady 87gn hollow point they shoot well in .243

 

I do like that cartridge but i would like to know with windy condittions is is better to have the fast 58gr or the slower 87 gr or 75gr... If the cartridge fits my rifle is the second question.. ill have to try..

[riohog 5,701]

 

try hornady 87gn hollow point they shoot well in .243

 

I do like that cartridge but i would like to know with windy condittions is is better to have the fast 58gr or the slower 87 gr or 75gr... If the cartridge fits my rifle is the second question.. ill have to try..

 

generally a heavier bullet will be more stable in windy conditions .speed isn't everything but accuracy is!!.

[dixyhmr 62]

Im using 75g norma v max factory @ minute and my rifle loves them. The trajectory is almost identical to the 40 g v max through my .223 so when I switch rifles I don't have to alter my holdover for different ranges. I zero both @ an inch high at 100 yards for a 200 yard zero. Ive since swapped from hornady .223 which ive been using for a few years to norma .223 and ive found better consistency in general.

 

 

The 58's are great for foxes. They are very destructive and flat, but the 75's have a bit more weight behind them for shooting foxes in crop fields etc and still have a very usable trajectory also having a better BC, and does double duties on roe so I don't have to switch bullets.

 

Last weekend I shot a fox @ 50 yards, then one @ yards and both times the round did not exit. I then shot one later @ 220 yards which also did not exit.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Or if you can get them, grain Sierra blitz, fast, very flat and a good bc, my do everything (almost) bullet of choice now.

[bbjaccov5 4]

Thanks allot guys!

 

First i think im going to try the 75 gr norma but when i start reloading the sierra looks also great. First have to see what kind of bullets my gun will like.

Gr Jacco

[bbjaccov5 4]

So dixyhmr youre saying that the 75 gr .243 will not exit a fox? so all its energy is taken inside the fox? Most be a mess then?

[dixyhmr 62]

Actually quite the opposite.

 

To be honest ive found the .223 40 grainers to be much messier.

 

Im not saying they don't ever exit...... it depends on where the round hits and at what angle etc but id say most times they tend not to in my experience. Even though its 75 grain, its still a lightweight v max........................

 

The 58 grainers tend to blow the guts and intestines out even with a chest shot. Great if you like that sort of thing but id rather have the extra stability the extra weight offers.

 

Have a look on the fox pictures page and youl see a post I put up a good while back..... big dog fox which was headshot at around 120 yards. Apart from a small hole theres no other damage, and no exit. Almost looks like it just rolled over and died of natural causes........

[bbjaccov5 4]

Hello...

 

Dam you could have said the picture was on page 30 of 31.. Then i would not have started at page 1 and spent 34 min watching names trying to find dixyhmr Haha

So im thinking the 75 gr would be my round only one question left i guess: Since the 75gr does not make big holes etc. will it have enough stopping power if you hit it wrong. Like to much in the back? I would think if you blew the backside of a fox off with the 58gr i would not go far. Has the 75gr enough expansion? It is a v-max so i would expect lots of dammage.

Thanks allot!

Gr Jacco

[dixyhmr 62]

_{I use .223 for fox most of the time and rarely get any runners unless my shot is way off. ( happens to everyone eventually ). If the shots not in the right place then youl always be in with a chance of an injured animal.}

 

_{.243 is more than enough regardless of bullet type. Just don't go shooting foxes up the arse with a ballistic tip. If your going to make a habit of that type of shot change to a soft point thatl reach the vitals.}

 

_{A bigger hole doesent mean a "deader" fox. sometimes the lighter bullets they expand too quicky and don't hit the vitails wherehas a bit more weight helps punch through tissue and bone etc to reach the vitals.}

 

_{Horses for courses, try both maybe and see what suits you best.}

[bbjaccov5 4]

_{I use .223 for fox most of the time and rarely get any runners unless my shot is way off. ( happens to everyone eventually ). If the shots not in the right place then youl always be in with a chance of an injured animal.}

 

_{.243 is more than enough regardless of bullet type. Just don't go shooting foxes up the arse with a ballistic tip. If your going to make a habit of that type of shot change to a soft point thatl reach the vitals.}

 

_{A bigger hole doesent mean a "deader" fox. sometimes the lighter bullets they expand too quicky and don't hit the vitails wherehas a bit more weight helps punch through tissue and bone etc to reach the vitals.}

 

_{Horses for courses, try both maybe and see what suits you best.}

 

Thanks allot! im not making a habit of shooting foxes up the arse i ment if you pull the rifle..

THanks again im going to buy them both and see what does better for me.

Gr Jacco

[charlie caller 3,654]

Or you could try the Sierra 60gn hollowpoint @ 3800fps they tend to make rather a large hole, my loading was 45.5 grains of h414, col 2.600" smack on, but now I prefer the 80gn blitz, as they work superbly on deer.

[dicehorn 38]

bbjaccov5 - I assume by the way this thread has gone that the purpose of either weight is for the sole use on foxes (thought just about all forms of shooting live quarry had been banned in Holland?) If your intention is also to shoot occasional deer then it may be better to start and end at the heavier weight.

 

It is also worth doing the research once you have selected a weight to find out the BC of your bullet as BC is an important factor in getting the bullet to buck the wind - some lighter bullets have a better BC than some heavier bullets - but then, do these lighter bullets suit your barrel as far as accuracy is concerned

 

It is far better for you to have a rifle that shoots a particular weight of bullet accurately - from there it is no big deal to practice in varying speeds of wind to work out how much you need to alter POA when shooting something with a leg in each corner.

 

Peter

[bbjaccov5 4]

Hello Peter,

 

The rifle is only going to be used at foxes and crow's i guess. Yes in Holland we can't shoot much. We can shoot deer and roe but i don't have any at my hunting grounds. Of course i have to try the bullet in being accurate but i heard good things about both bullets in the rifle i ordered. So it was mainly the question what would be beter in windy conditions. A 75 gr or that ultra fast 58 gr. If they are both accurate otherwise i don't have to choose.

On my riflescope is also a "ballistic tower" so i can dial in at diffent ranges. But i heard sometimes its better to shoot a light bullet then a heavy bullet with weight. (and less to dial in)

 

I noticed that the bc of the 58 gr is better than the 75gr so that would mean the 58gr would be better in hard wind?

 

Gr Jacco

Edited July 26, 2013 by bbjaccov5